Therapeutic apparatus



June 17, 1941. H. E. DIERKER 2,245,653

THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS Filed April 1. 1940 IN VEN TOR.

I A T TORNE Y Patented June 17, 1941 U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'rnnnarav'rro arrsaarns Hugh E. Dierker, Los'Angeles, Calif. Application April 1, 1940, Serial No. 327,268 4 Claims. (Cl. 128L227) My invention relates to improvements in colonic therapy apparatus which operates to ex pand and contract the colon for the purpose of stimulating the musculature of same in order to rehabilitate peristalsis and of working free retentionsoi -i'eces.

In my two issued Colon irrigator, dated May 23, 1933, and No. 2,024,967, for Method and apparatus for rehabilitating peristalsis oi the colon, dated December 17, 1935, I disclosed an apparatus of the patents, No. 1,910,756, for I the applicator i general character stated above, and referenceto these two patents may be had fora full and complete disclosure of such. apparatus and their method of operation.

In the us of such apparatus vacuum is employed for contracting the colon and the technician carefully watches the reactions of the patient and at the proper time discontinues the vacuum. In the practice of this technique it has been demonstrated that in certain cases much better results are obtained when the vacuum is relieved at the instant the technician observes the reactions which indicate that the vacuum should be relieved. In the usual apparatus the outlet pipe is connected to a sewer connection pipe which extends downwardly, and therefore when the vacuum is discontinued there is a head of water in this downwardly extending pipe which by siphon efl'ect exerts a suction on the colon which may, although it be small, prevent the colon from functioning in a natural manner.

It is an object of my present invention to provide a colonic therapy apparatus of the general character referred to in my two issued patents in which the vacuum in the outlet conduit is immediately broken when the operator places the vacuum producing means in an inoperative position. By this means the suction on the colon tending to contract the same is immediately cessated.

It is another object of my invention to provide a colonic therapy apparatus in which the vacuum breaking means is placed in the suction producing means so that it may serve the dual purpose, first, of breaking the vacuum in the outlet conduit and, second, preventing back siphonage into the water supply.

Other objects of my invention are embodied in the details of construction and will be brought preferred embodiment of my invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the vacuum release means or vent means of my invention. 7

Referring to Fig. 1, my invention provides an applicator I0 adapted to be inserted in a body cavity, suchas the colon. Connected to through a short interconnecting conduit ii is an inlet conduit l2 and an outlet conduit l4. Solution may be supplied to the inlet conduit l2 by any suitable a solution container ii. In the inlet conduit i2 isan inlet valve l6 and in the outlet conduit M is an outlet valve l1. These valves may be operated to allow fluid to be injected into the colon or to be removed therefrom, depending upon which .01 the valves is opened or closed.

The outlet conduit i4 is connected to a sewer connection pipe 20 which extends downwardly as shown and is connected to the sewer.

For the purpose of creating a suction or vacuum in the outlet conduit i4 whereby the colon may be contracted, my invention provides an injector 22 having an injector nozzle 23. For the purpose of supplying water under pressure to the injector 22, my invention provides a water supply means including a water pipe 24 and a water control valve 25. Connected between the valve 25 and the injector 22 is 9. connecting pipe 26. When the valve 25 is opened water under pressure flows through the injector nozzle 23 and thus produces a suction or, vacuum in that portion of the outlet conduit to the left of the injector 22.

Positioned in the connecting pip 26 is a vacuum release means or vent means 28 which constitutes an important element 01' my invention.

This vacuum release means includes a body 20 I having a passage 30 connected to the portions 26a and 26b of the connecting pipe 2|. Connected to the body 29 is a vent chamber 3i which is'removable, being threadedly secured in place as indicated at 32. The passage is provided with a wall 34 having an opening 15 surrounded by a lower seat 38. The vent chammeans, such as engages the seat 30. and when in dotted line 7 position the ball 42 engages the seat It.

The upper end oi the vent chamber Ii is provided with vent openings 4 and below these vent openings ll is a trough I to which a drain it is connected. Secured to the upper end oi the vent chamber ii is a guard it which prevents water from iiowing in-an outward horizontal direction over the trough 41.

The apparatus disclosed herein operates in accordance with the-teachings oi my two prior patents but has the additional features and advantages which will now-be pointed out.

Alter the-colon hasbeeniilledorpartiyillled with liquid and it is desired to contract the same, the inlet valve It is closed, the outlet valve i1 is opened,'and the control valve ll is also opened. with the control valve ll open, water under pressure flows through the connecting pipe I, the nozzle 23, and into the outlet conduit i4.

produces avacuum on the 'outlet conduit II.

when water starts to flow through the connect-- ingpipc Ilitiiowsintothebodyli oithevaouum release means It and must dislodge the valve 42 from the seat It. This it does because the water is under pressure, and in view of the iact thatthe part 26b is of smaller area crosssection than the part "a oi the connecting pipe 2 a pressure will be developed in the body it which moves the ball 42 upward into dotted line position 44, thus engaging the upper seat II and closing the opening it. There is usually some flow of water past the ball 43 which occurs during the movement or the ball to its upper position,

and this water flows into the vent chamber II.

The vent chamber 3! is made suiiiciently large so that in normal operation the water leaking past. the ball 42 will never till the vent chamber ,and

flow outwardly through the openings 4. However, should the valve 42 tail to properly seat and leakage occur thereby, the water will first till the vent chamber II and then overflow into the trough l1 and outward through the drain ll. The drain I, as shown in Fig. 1, extends to the exterior oi the enclosure represented by dotted lines 55 and the operator will note the leakage and may shut down the apparatus. It will be understood, however, that ordinarily the ball 42 will properly seat and there will be no leakage.

' When the operator desires to discontinue the contracting action the valve 2! is closed and at this time the suction producing means becomes inoperative. When the pressure is relieved in the body 29 of the vacuum release means the ball U will drop by gravity into lull line position. This, it will be seen, vents the part 20b oi the connecting pipe 26 to the atmosphere, and since this part no is connected to the nomle 28 which is in turn connected 'to the outlet conduit H,

the outlet conduit is vented to the atmosphere and the liquid in the connecting pipe 20 is free to now therefrom without exerting a vacuum Byplacingtbevacimmreleasemeanainthesuctionproducingmeansitisaisopcssibletoobtain the additional ieaturc oi preventing back siphona eintothewatersupply.

In the torcgoing description I have illustrated but onee'mbodimcnt oi my invention. It should be understood, however, that the ieaturea and advantageamaybsincorporatedinotherstructureaand Ithereiore' do not-wish to be limited tothe precise form 0! my invention disclosed herein but wish my invention to be construed in accordance with the spirltsnd-scope oi the I. appended claims.

I claim as myinvention: i. In a therapyapparatus, the combination oi: an applicator; an inlet conduit connected to said applicaton liquid supply means connected to said inletran outlet conduit connected to said applicator;'-inlet and outletwvalve means ior said conduits; vacuum producing means. connected to 'said outlet conduit and operable to produce a vacuum therein: and vent means operable to automatically vent said vacuum producing means tothe exterioronlywhensaidvacuumproducing means isin non-operating condition. a

2. In a therapy apparatus, the combination or; an applicator; an inlet conduit connected to said applicator; liquid supply means connected to said inlet; an outlet conduit connected to said applicator; inlet and outlet valve means ior said conduits; an injector in said outlet conduit operable to produce a vacuum therein; a water supply a means having a control valve; a connecting pipe connected to said water supply said injector; and vent means connected to said connecting pipe including a vent opening and a valve, said valve being adapted to close said vent opening when said water supp y control valve is duits; an injector in said outlet conduit; a water on the outlet conduit or the colon. when this ball 42 engages the seat 38 it positively seals the water supply pipe 24 from the injector I2 and prevents back siphonage. It will be understood that whenever the pressure in the body I! is reduced sufilciently the ball 42 will drop into full line position shown in Fig, 2. v

As a result of my new combination as disclosed herein, it is possible for the technician in special or'sensitive cases to stop, the contracting action on the colon instantly. This enables the technician to administer treatments more accurately and thus in special cases obtain better results.

supply means having a control valve: a connectl P p connected to said water supply means and said iniector; and vent means in said mnnecting pipe including a vent chamber connected to said connecting pipe, a lower valve seat in the said connecting pipe, an upper valve seat in'said vent chamber, and a valve adapted to engage automatically either oi said seats.

4. In a therapy apparatus, the combination 0!: an applicator; an inlet conduit connected to said applicator; liquid supply means connected to said inlet conduit; an outlet conduit connected to said applicator; valve means for said inlet and outlet conduits; a mum producing tor in me outlet conduit on the downstream side of its valve means; a water supply line leading to the in- Jector to operate the latter; valve means in the water supply line to control the flow therethrough; vent means including an opening and connected in the water supply line between its valve means and the indector; diiferential pressure operated valve means associated with the vent means and automatically operable to close the vent opening when the valve means in the water supply line is open and to open the vent opening only when said valve means is closed; and a liquid drain for the vent means.

HUGH E. DIERKER, 

